Formaldehyde-generator.



PATE'NTBD FEB. 19, 1907.

R. w. DODGE. FORMALDBHYDB' GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1906 ROBE'RLT'W. DODGE, or KANSASCITY, MISSOURI.

. FOFiMALDEHYDE GENEFiATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed June 16,1906. Serial No- 322,086.

To'aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, R'oBERrW. DODGE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kanwhich can be operated without the exercise of any particular skill and by a person without experience with devices of this character. The device is especiallyadapted for generating formaldehyde wherever it is desired to use it for disinfecting purposes.

The invention consists of a receptacle having a tube-extending thereinto and formed with inlet-openings and with a set of 'outletopenings. A tubular wick is arranged within said tube, and a cap having outlets in its upper portion is mounted on the tube and serves to normally close t e same. A copper chimney is mounted on the receptacle and has openings for supplying air to the lower portion of the exposed part. of the tube, and a partition is arranged within the chimney for closing communication between the lower and upper portions.

The invention also consists of certain'other novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the generator, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the chimney and the cap and tube surrounded thereby.

. Referringtoithe figures by characters of reference, 1 is a receptacle of any suitable contour and proportions and having an openingfl2in the top thereof, into which is screwed a collar 8, which is arranged upon a tube 4, extending downward into the receptacle to a point near the bottom thereof and 0 en at its ends. This tube has a desired num er of inlet-openings '5 therein close to the-top of but within the receptacle 1, and outlet-openings 6 are formed within the tube 4 just above the collar 3. A cap 7 in the form of a sleeve is slidably mounted on the outer portion of the tube and is closed at its upper end, while its lower end is surrounded by an annular flange 8. Outlet-openings 9 are formed Wl lllln the aperturcd and when the said cap is in its lowermost position on the tube its lower end closesthe openings 6, while the openings 9 in its upper end are closed bythe tube 4. I An upstanding circular flange 10 is arranged upon the receptacle and concentric with the opening 2. This flange is adapted to' project into and hold a chimney 11, formed of copper. The flange 8 serves to divide the chimney into an y upper compartment 13 and a lower compartment 14. That portion of the chimney constituting the wall of the lower com artment is formed with a large number 0 perforations 15, which constitute air-inlets. A wick 16 tubular ,in form is located within the tube 4.

alcohol is placed within the receptacle 1, and after the cap 7 has been slid upward the gas or vapor given off by the alcohol is ignited by applying a flame to the openings 6. Combustion will be supported by air entering the perforations 15, and when the copper is heated a portion of the oxygen admitted through the openings 15 will combine therewith to form oxid of copper. The heat generated will also vaporize the alcohol contained within the wick, and by reason of the expansion produced by the creation of the vapor said vapor will escape from the upper end of the sidcrable force, and the greater portion of it will be projected against the chimney 11. Should any of the' vapor fail to come in con- 4 tact with the copper chimney, it will commingle with the copper oxid contained within tube 4 and through the openings 9 with con- In using this device a quantity of woodi fore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claim.

\Vhat is claimed is A formaldehyde-generator comprising a receptacle, :1 tube extending therein'to and cap at a point removed from its closed end, I upward therefrom, said tube being open at its ends and having inlet-apertures within and adjacent the top of the receptacle and outlet-openings out-side of and adjacent the receptacle, a tubular wick disposed within said tube and closing the apertures therein, a

cap slidablymounted upon the outer end. of the tube and having a plurality of openings adapted to be closed by the tube when the cap is lowered, the outlet-openings within the tube being adapted to be closed, by said movementof the cap, an annular flange SUI? rounding the lower end of the cap, a circular flange upstanding from the receptacle,

and a i copper chimney centered by said circular flange about the tube and'cap and spaced 15 from the annular flange, said .chimfleyhaving a plurality of air-inlet openings adjacent the outer apertures within the tube.

- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflix'ed my signature in 20 the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT QD DGE. Witnesses: r I C. V. WooLsEY,

S. WEsTov n. 

